Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) are one of the most widespread and common hummingbird species in North America. They are known for their feisty behavior and fiercely defending food sources, leading some people to wonder – are Rufous Hummingbirds friendly to humans?
In the wild, Rufous Hummingbirds exhibit somewhat contradictory behaviors when it comes to their interactions with humans. On one hand, they can become quite territorial and aggressive around feeders or food sources. However, they have also been known to show interest in and even friendliness towards people. Their behavior depends on the individual bird’s personality and past experiences. With patience and care, it is possible to develop rewarding relationships with these fiery hummingbirds.
Rufous Hummingbird Identification
Before exploring Rufous Hummingbird behavior, it is helpful to understand how to identify them. Some key identification features include:
– Size and shape: Rufous Hummingbirds are small, with slender bodies, long wings, and medium-length tails. They measure 2.8-3.5 inches (7-9 cm) in length.
– Coloration: Adult male Rufous Hummingbirds have bright, iridescent reddish-orange plumage on their backs, heads, tails, and flanks. Their throats are an iridescent red-orange as well. Females and juveniles are greenish on top with pale, rusty orange on the sides and base of the tail. All Rufous Hummingbirds have white breast feathers.
– Bill: Their slender bills are slightly downcurved.
– Range: Rufous Hummingbirds breed in the northwestern United States and western Canada. They migrate south to spend the winter along the Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast. Some vagrants may be spotted east of their typical range.
– Sounds: Their most common call is a metallic chip or cheep. During courtship displays, males produce buzzy trills.
– Behavior: Rufous Hummingbirds are solitary and territorial. They aggressively defend nectar sources.
Rufous Hummingbird Territorial Behavior
Rufous Hummingbirds are fiercely protective of food sources, especially nectar-producing flowers and sugar-water feeders. They will actively chase away other hummingbirds that enter their territory. A male will pick a feeding area in the spring and aggressively defend it throughout the breeding season against intruders. Females may also defend feeding areas after nesting.
Some signs that Rufous Hummingbirds are being territorial include:
– Loud chipping, squeaking, or trilling vocalizations
– Animated flying around the perimeter of the territory
– Making rapid dives at intruders
– Direct body contact like pecking or bumping an intruding hummingbird
– Flushing or spreading out feathers to appear more imposing
– Perching prominently to survey the territory
This aggressive defense of resources is driven by survival instincts. Rufous Hummingbirds cannot risk losing access to the carbohydrate-rich nectar that provides them energy. However, not all encounters with humans occur in the context of a perceived resource threat.
Curiosity and Interest in Humans
Despite their feisty reputation, Rufous Hummingbirds may also exhibit curiosity about humans. They have been known to closely observe or interact with people, especially when their typical wariness is overcome. Some examples of their inquisitiveness include:
– Approaching people who stand still and allow the birds to investigate them. The hummingbirds may hover nearby or even briefly land on a hand or clothing.
– Checking out human activity around typical feeding areas. For example, monitoring maintenance on their feeders.
– Flying close by or “escorting” humans who walk through territory boundaries.
– Visiting gardens, porches, or windows where they have successfully fed in the past.
– Returning repeatedly to inspect any promising nectar sources provided by people.
This behavior suggests Rufous Hummingbirds recognize individual humans and remember positive interactions associated with them. With time and repeated exposure, they can become accustomed to human presence.
Techniques for Friendly Interactions
It is possible to cultivate more friendly relationships with Rufous Hummingbirds through careful approaches that respect their wild nature. Some tips include:
– Move slowly and speak softly to allow them to adjust to your presence.
– Avoid sudden motions which can startle them.
– Let them fly close and investigate you at their own pace.
– Hold still with arms down and avoid direct eye contact.
– Wear red or orange, which attracts their curiosity.
– Provide a nectar feeder in your garden for them to access.
– Use freeze-dried mealworms or sugar water in an eyedropper to hand feed extremely tame individuals. Only attempt this with extreme caution.
– Never grab at or restrict their movement, which can cause them to become defensive.
– Be patient! It takes time for wild hummingbirds to develop trust.
Backyard Behavior Observations
To better understand how Rufous Hummingbirds interact with humans, let’s go over some specific backyard observations:
Territorial Males at Feeders
Rufous Hummingbird males are extremely territorial around feeders. A male will claim a feeder as part of his breeding territory in spring. He perches nearby to chase off other hummingbirds attempting to feed. He dives at and vocalizes aggressively towards intruders. The presence of people does not deter this behavior – the feeder is a vital resource to defend. This territorial behavior eases once breeding season ends.
Females Feeding While Nesting
Female Rufous Hummingbirds may also defend areas around feeders while nesting. A female raising chicks has high energy requirements and cannot risk losing access to nourishment. She will exhibit protective behavior, keeping an eye out for rivals. However, she may cautiously use feeders placed close to her nest, bolstering her nutrition. With careful movements, humans can refill feeders while she is nesting to support her and avoid conflict.
Young Birds Investigating People
Young Rufous Hummingbirds tend to be more inquisitive than mature adults. They may dart around people’s heads and shoulders to investigate. These close encounters are usually harmless, reflecting the naive curiosity of a juvenile. With time they become warier, but this behavior shows they are not innately hostile to human presence.
Tame Individuals Seeking Handouts
In rare instances, individual Rufous Hummingbirds become very tame and comfortable around people. They may follow humans around, land on fingers in search of food, or even buzz people’s ears demandingly! This likely results from positive associations with humans providing sugary handouts. The birds connect this food source with friendly people and seek more. With care not to reinforce bad behavior, friendly interactions can continue.
Unique Personality Differences
Like all animals, individual Rufous Hummingbirds have distinct personalities shaping their behavior. Some variations that may be noticed include:
– Bold vs. shy – Some are bolder in approaching people and new food sources, while others are extremely wary. Shy individuals require more patience and slow movements before trusting humans.
– Curious vs. aloof – Some Rufous Hummingbirds closely observe and investigate people, following them curiously. Others want no voluntary interaction and only approach feeders when humans leave.
– Friendly vs. aggressive – Once accustomed to people, some Rufous Hummingbirds may defend feeders less aggressively and tolerate human presence. More aggressive individuals continue perceiving people as threats.
– Habituated vs. wild – In heavily populated areas, some Rufous Hummingbirds become more used to human activity and less stressed by it. Wilder hummingbirds in remote areas are more high-strung around people.
– Dominant vs. subordinate – Dominant male Rufous Hummingbirds are the most aggressive in defending territories. Subordinate juveniles and females are more easily displaced from feeders.
Recognizing these individual differences helps explain why some Rufous Hummingbirds are more receptive to friendly human interactions than others. Gaining the trust of shy, aggressive, dominant individuals requires significantly more time and care.
Risks of Taming Wild Hummingbirds
While friendly relationships with Rufous Hummingbirds can be rewarding, there are also risks associated with hand-feeding and taming wild hummingbirds that should be considered:
– They may become dependent on people for food rather than naturally foraging.
– Too much human food can lead to malnutrition if not balanced properly.
– They could be harmed by accidentally flying into your home.
– They may lose wariness towards predators due to too much human association.
– Extremely tame birds may not integrate back into the wild successfully later on.
– Friendliness towards people makes them more vulnerable to capture or harm by poachers.
– They could bite or scratch you when expecting food or if startled.
The safest approach is to enjoy Rufous Hummingbirds visiting feeders in your garden normally without excessive hand feeding. This offers great viewing opportunities while allowing them to remain wild at heart.
Conclusion
Rufous Hummingbirds exhibit an intriguing mix of fierce protectiveness and innate curiosity about the world around them – including humans. With time and care, they can become comfortable around people and may even seek out friendly interactions, based on their experiences. But at heart, they remain wild birds motivated by survival instincts and energy needs. By respecting their space and needs, we can develop rewarding relationships with these fiery hummingbirds in our backyards. With proper caution, their curiosity and interesting personalities can be enjoyed up-close.
